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<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 13, 2017<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri;">Contact- Brendan Sullivan (401) 865-1245<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<b>Cross Country/Track and Field Program Ranked Amongst Top Programs In NCAA<o:p></o:p></b></p>
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<i>The Friar’s Women’s program was ranked the 18<sup>th</sup> best program based on NCAA finishes for the 2016-17 year.<o:p></o:p></i></p>
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<i> </i></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri;"><b>NEW ORLEANS, LA. –
</b>The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced the NCAA Division I Programs of the Year on Tuesday, June 13. The Providence College Women’s Cross Country/Track and Field program was ranked as the 18<sup>th</sup> best program
in the NCAA during the 2016-17 year.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri;">The USTFCCCA Program of the Year Award is given annually to the most outstanding cross country and track & field programs in each of the NCAA’s three divisions, the NAIA and for each
gender in those organizations. The award honors the institution that has achieved the most success in each academic year (spanning the cross country, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field seasons) based on finishes at the NCAA or NAIA Championships.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri;">In order to be eligible for the award, teams must qualify for each of the NCAA or NAIA Championships. Scoring is based on the team’s finish at those meets (1st = 1 point, 2nd = 2 points,
etc.) and the team with the lowest combined score is crowned champion.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri;">The Providence women had another strong year as they placed 13<sup>th</sup> at the Cross Country Championships, 41<sup>st</sup> at the Indoor Track Championships, and 72<sup>nd</sup>
at the Outdoor Track Championships. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri;">Providence had two All-Americans this year in junior Brianna Ilarda (Perth, Australia) and junior Millie Paladino (Morgantown, W. Va.). Ilarda earned First Team All-America honors in
the Indoor 5,000 meters and in the 3,000-meter Steeplechase. Paladino was also a First Team All-American in the Indoor mile and was an Honorable Mention All-American in the Outdoor 1,500 meters.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri;">For full NCAA Division I Program of the Year Standings, click
<a href="http://www.ustfccca.org/assets/poy/1617/program-of-the-year-2016-17-division-1-FINAL.pdf" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193); text-decoration: underline;">
here</a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri;"><b>-GO FRIARS!-
</b> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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